Outsider Predictions, Amukamara’s Questionable Fashion, Hope for Linebackers, and Other Bullets

The Chicago Bears start reporting to camp a week from today, which means we’ll start to get some interesting fashion looks from rookies and veterans alike. Good luck topping this one, Prince:

Hey Prince…Think you can top this look at camp next week? #TBT

A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears) on

  • The Bears didn’t draft anyone during the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft, but this breakdown of the two players who were drafted almost makes me wish they did:
  • But there’s no crying over spilled milk here. The Bears’ secondary is already loaded and believed to be a strength of the defense. And let’s not forget the types of pieces they added as undrafted free agents. We took a look at that group earlier in the summer and it’s hard not to come away happy with how the unit looks heading into camp.
  • For as well as the defensive backfield performed, there could be room for improvement if the front seven was able to shoulder more of the load. Greg Gabriel breaks down the Bears’ linebackers, a group that is talented but also a bit injury prone. The best ability is availability in the NFL, and that some of the Bears’ best linebackers have been unavailable for one reason or another in recent years is troublesome. Both of the team’s starting outside linebackers and its top returning inside linebacker missed a significant chunk of games last year due to injuries. Chicago could probably go to battle with its reserves among its inside backers, but the collection of edge rushers really can’t take an injury related hit.
  • Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report comes up with one move each NFL team should make before the season starts, and the Bears’ move is one that makes sense if you take into consideration what we were talking about in the Bullet above. Lamarr Houston is still a free agent and hasn’t had too much attention thrown his way in the offseason. And while Houston’s Bears career got off to an inauspicious start, he played great down the stretch last season when the team was running thin on edge rushers. Houston knows the defense ad has proven to be productive in it when given the opportunities. Re-adding Houston could be one of those can’t hurt, could help situations. And if he continues to linger out there on the open market, I can see the Bears dialing his number if something happens on the injury front to one of their projected contributors.
  • If only the Bears could hop in a time machine and bring back one of their great defensive ends to add some punch to the pass rush. NFL Media Senior Analyst Gil Brandt shares his list of 31 best defensive ends, and there are a handful of Bears on it. Julius Peppers is my favorite ex-Bear on this group, if only because I didn’t get to see Richard Dent at the peak of his powers. Jared Allen’s time with the Bears is kin to Brett Favre’s time with the Jets. Wrong place, wrong time, and weird fit after a distinguished career with a rival.
  • The lack of a pass rush is one of the reasons some folks aren’t as bullish as we are when it comes to the Bears’ upside. Max Demara of 247Sports makes note of FOX Sports talking head Colin Cowherd’s NFC North picks, in which he has the Bears finishing dead last … again. Cowherd says he likes some of the pieces on the team, but doesn’t trust the front office that brought them together. A 5-11 record would be really disappointing, but it’s popular (and at times, profitable) to go opposite of what Cowherd feels. So I’ve got the Bears down at 11-5. Mark it down.
  • If the Bears are going to go opposite of Cowherd’s prediction, the offense has to carry its share of the load. Tarik Cohen continuing to be a slippery force would certainly help the cause:
  • This is neat: NFL Network will carry 15 preseason games live this summer, including the Bears’ preseason battle against the Chiefs on August 25 as part of a Saturday doubleheader. Beyond the Andy Reid-Matt Nagy storyline, I’m curious to see how the Bears approach that game. After all, it will be their fourth preseason contest. Hopefully, we’ll get a good look at what this team will be about in what will be the all-important third preseason game for the Chiefs.
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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